MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday broke his silence over speculation about his ill-health, saying he was recovering from home and not in “a mortuary somewhere” as “wished by his political foes”.
MOSES MATENGA/EVERSON MUSHAVA
Tsvangirai spoke amid drama as officials at the Trauma Centre and Hospital in Harare where he had been admitted reported him to the police for “sneaking out” without settling his hospital bill amounting to $2 600.
The hospital authorities also suspended a nurse who had helped “sneak Tsvangirai out” through the exit to the launderette around 11am as the ex-Premier, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth Macheka, sought to evade hordes of people – including State security agents and journalists – who had camped at the hospital.
Some hospital staff indicated that the drama over the non-payment of the hospital bill was stage-managed as Macheka had indicated that she was taking her husband home and would be back to settle all bills.
Tsvangirai was reportedly set to be released today, but it was not clear why he had opted to be discharged a day earlier.
It is understood hospital authorities rushed to report Tsvangirai at nearby Avondale Police Station, but by the time they finished making the report, they got a call from the hospital to the effect that the bill had been settled three hours after he moved out, forcing the hospital to withdraw the charges.
An Avondale policeman had to rush to the hospital to secure evidence that indeed Tsvangirai had settled the bill.
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“A lady who accompanied Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth said they wanted to get him to rest at home and promised to return to make the payment after 30 minutes. But an hour after he left, hospital officials decided to report him to the police and suspend the nurse who helped him ‘sneak out’,” the source said.
Speaking to NewsDay hours after his release from hospital, Tsvangirai – who was relaxing with his wife at the couple’s Highlands mansion – said he was bound to fall sick like any other human being.
“People thought I was in a mortuary somewhere. Who said I shouldn’t get sick? As if there is someone who ordered that thou shall not get sick?”
His wife chipped in telling journalists that her husband was well and relaxing, putting to rest speculation that he was critically ill and detained in a hospital.
When the NewsDay crew arrived, Tsvangirai was watching television while Macheka sat next to him going through some newspapers.
Tsvangirai was reportedly hospitalised at the private hospital on Sunday. But his aides maintained that he was only visiting the doctor to receive treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
The main opposition leader failed to attend an MDC-T Africa Day rally at Zimbabwe in Grounds, Highfield, Harare, on the same day, with senior party officials saying his doctor had instructed him to take a break.
It was the way that Tsvangirai allegedly sneaked out of the hospital that angered hospital authorities leaving hordes of suspected State security agents and journalists milling around at the reception of the upmarket private hospital.
A spokesperson for the hospital, who refused to be named, said in a dramatic way Tsvangirai, who was heavily guarded, left the hospital at 11am using the back exit without the knowledge of the front office.
The official claimed Tsvangirai left before settling his bill, despite earlier communication with him that services should be paid for before leaving.
“He left through the exit to the laundry at the back of the hospital without the knowledge of the front office,” the official said.
“We started phoning them and one of his family or party members immediately came to settle the bill.”
NewsDay could not establish Tsvangirai’s ailment, but there was speculation that he was suffering from either stress, malaria or a nervous breakdown.
The former firebrand trade unionist is fighting for his political skin against a group of his ex-lieutenants led by secretary-general Tendai Biti and former deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma who were calling for his ouster from the apex of the opposition party.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said: “We see no reason to mislead the nation on [MDC-T] President Tsvangirai’s state of health and we have been open about his condition since this last weekend. More importantly, unlike other political leaders who fly out to upmarket hospitals outside the country for medical treatment, President Tsvangirai has exhibited faith in local medical expertise and health facilities.” This was in apparent reference to President Robert Mugabe’s regular visits to Singapore reportedly for a routine eye check-up.
